Sports boot,especially ski boot



Aug. 4, 1970 F sL 3,522,668

SPORTS BOOT, ESPECIALLY SKI BOOT Filed April 1, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR ZANZ FEsL ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1970 F. FESL. 3,522,668

SPORTS BOOT, ESPECIALLY SKI BOOT y Filed April 1, 1968 2 SheetsSheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEY United I States Patent O 3,522,668 SPORTS BOOT,ESPECIALLY SKI BOOT Franz Fesl, Dachauerstrasse 11, Furstenfeldbruck,Germany Filed Apr. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 717,860 Claims priority,application Germany, Apr. 8, 1967, F 52 078 US. CI. 36-25 11 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sports boot, in particular a ski boot,incorporating an inner sole and a support member for the arch of thefoot depending from such inner sole and spaced from the heel. Thissupport member includes an extended portion which provides a tensionstrap which can be guided to the opposite outer side of the boot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly pertains tofootwear, and more particularly, relates to sports boots, especially skiboots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention has for one of its primeobjectives the construction of an improved sports boot which renderspossible an ankle joint support at the foot of the user and produces atthe foot a support pressure which acts opposite to the instep closuremember so that the foot seats much better in the boot.

Another more specific object of the present invention pertains to animproved sports boot, in particular a ski boot, which is extremelycomfortable to wear while at the same time providing for proper fittingof the foot in the boot.

Still a further object of the present invention relates to an improvedsports boot which includes a support member for the arch of the foot andwhich can be fastened in such a way that the foot is securely andcomfortably seated in the boot.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the inventive boot is generally manifested by the featuresthat a support member which is spaced from the heel depends from theinner sole. This support member includes an extended portion which isconstructed in the form of a tension or traction strap which can beguided to the opposite external side of the boot and there can bereleasably fixedly retained by adjustable boot closure means. Owing tothis construction, the foot is engaged from below at its central regionand displaced rearwardly into the heel space or compartment of the boot,whereby the seating of the foot in the boot is improved. Furthermore,the attach ment from the outside can be, for instance, regulated inaccordance with the prevailing requirements by employing a tractionclosure member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood, and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ski boot designed according to theteachings of the present invention, with parts of the boot broken awayto expose certain of the structure necessary to understand theunderlying con cepts of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the support member and the inner sole of aboot utilizing the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a support member and the inner soleaccording to a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the boot shown in FIG. 1,substantially along the line IVIV thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the boot of FIG. 1, similar tothe showing of FIG. 4, however, with the boot using a support member ofthe type shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the skit boot of FIG. 1,similar to the showing of FIG. 4, whereby, however, the tension strap isguided at the outside over a deflecting element in the form of adeflecting roller, and from this location is returned back over theinstep region of the boot and secured to the upper portion of the bootlocated at the inside of the foot; and,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, however, with thedifference that here the tension strap which passes over the deflectingroller is guided back to the instep region and merges with the anklebonesleeve of the boot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings,and, initially referring to the sports boot shown by way of example inFIG. 1, it will be recognized that a support member 3 for supporting thearch and therefore the ankle joint of the foot is secured to the innersole 1. It will be recognized that this support member 3 narrows inwidth so as to form an extended portion which defines a tension strap 7.This tension strap 7 is guided at the region of the instep of the boottowards the outside and is directed at an inclination rearwardly to asuitable boot closure member 10- which, for instance, operates on theprinciple of a pivotal tensioning lever, as such is well known in theart.

Furthermore, it will be seen that at the free end of the tension strap7, there is provided a bracket 9 which renders possible a lengthwiseadjustment of the tension strap 7. In this manner it is possible for thetension strap 7 to be more or less tensioned, as desired, from the outerside of the upper 4 of the boot. Furthermore, since the closure memberor buckle 10 has a number of fixing or engagement locations for thetension strap 7, it is possible, in conjunction with the lengthwiseadjustability of the tension strap 7, to adjust the latter toaccommodate different foot sizes or dimensions.

As will be recognized by referring to FIG. 2, the attachment of thesupport member 3 to the inner sole 1, in the illustrated embodiment ofthis figure, takes place by means of a strip member 2 in arc-shapedfashion, that is to say, along the points a-e-b. Furthermore, thesupport member 3 is spaced from the heel portion and is disposed at theregion of the arch where the footprint of a foot is smallest. A slit 8provided at the support member 3 renders possible arching of the supportsurface, so that the support member 3 can properly come to bear againstthe natural arch of the ankle joint. Thus, it should be apparent thatthe support member 3 is only connected along the strip member 2 with theinner sole 1, in other words not along the entire surface. It should befurther understood that in lieu of stitches or a seam it would bepossible for the attachment to be carried out by em ploying a suitableadhesive.

Now in FIG. 3 there is shown a modified form of the invention in whichthe support member 3 is provided with padding or a cushion 6 at theregion of the arch. In this case, a flap member 16 is extended to theopposite edge of the inner sole 1 and is flexed about the latter, assuch is clearly shown by referring to FIG. 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. '6, the tension strap 7 is guided at theoutside over a deflecting element, here shown in the form of adeflecting roller 11 provided for the boot. At this location of thedeflecting roller 11 or any equivalent or similar type structure, thetension strap 7 is deflected back over the instep portion 15 of the bootto the oppositely situated upper portion, where such tension strap nowextends rearwardly and is secured at location 14 with the upper 4.

In order to limit the tension which is exerted upon the arch, it ispossible, according to FIG. 6, to provide a member 16 which is anchoredto the inner sole 1, as shown, and in the stretched condition limits thetension exerted upon the arch. In the non-tensioned condition of thisflexible member 16, the latter is loose and can deposit itself in folds.

A similar embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 in which the tension strap 7 isalso flexed and guided back to the instep region 15 and connected with astrap member 13 provided at the anklebone sleeve portion of the upper 4.It has been found to be advantageous to employ for this purpose thelower strap member. However, it would also be possible to provide forthis purpose the middle strap member or an upper strap member which,however, would require that the strap members cross one another.

Furthermore, it would be possible to produce the support member 3 andthe inner sole 1 from a single member or piece, whereby it is necessaryto observe that, in such case, then, the arc-shaped portion, which isdefined or enclosed by the points a, e, b, is not adhesively connectedwith the lower sole, rather is freely disposed.

Finally, it should be mentioned that apart from ski boots, the inventivestructure could also be employed for mountain shoes or boots, especiallyclimbing boots, which can also be equipped with a lacing closure system.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A sports boot, in particular a ski boot having an insole and a heelcharacterized in that a supporting member for the arch of the foot isspaced from the heel and includes an extension in the form of a tensionstrap, said supporting member being attached at least adjacent one sideof said insole and said strap being guided in a downward direction tothe opposite outer side of said boot; an releasable adjustable bootclosure means on said opposite outer side of said boot cooperating withsaid strap to releasably fix said strap.

2. A sports boot as defined in claim 1, characterized in that saidtension strap extends outwardly, downwardly and at an inclination towardthe rear in the direction of said heel portion.

3. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid sports boot includes an upper a part of which defines an instepportion, a deflecting element provided for said boot, said tension strapbeing guided about said deflecting element and being flexed in loop-likefashion back over the instep portion of the boot to the oppositelysituated portion of the upper.

4. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid sports boot includes an upper providing an ankle bone sleeve and aninstep portion, a strap member provided at said ankle bone sleeve, adeflecting element provided for said boot, said tension strap extendingabout said deflecting element and being guided back in the directiontowards said instep portion and at such location being connected withsaid strap member of the ankle bone sleeve.

5. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, as defined in claim 1, furtherincluding padding means provided for said support member.

6. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid support member is constructed at said inner sole in the form of asubstantially arc-shaped strip which extends towards the side of theinner sole which is located at the outside of the foot when inserted inthe boot.

7. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid support member is flexed about said inner sole.

8. A sports boot, in particular a ski boot having an insole and a heelcharacterized in that a supporting member for the arch of the foot isspaced from the heel and includes an extension in the form of a tensionstrap, said supporting member being attached at least adjacent one sideof said insole and said strap being guided in a downward direction tothe opposite outer side of said boot; and boot closure means on theopposite outer side of said boot cooperating with said strap toreleasably fix said strap.

9. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, incorporating an inner sole, asupport member for the arch of the foot depending from said inner soleand spaced from the heel, said support member including an extendedportion providing a tension strap which can be guided to the oppositeouter side of the boot and at such location is adapted to be releasablyfixed by adjustable boot closure means, an upper, a part of whichdefines an instep portion and a deflecting element, said tension strapbeing guided about said deflecting element and being flexed in loop-likefashion back over the instep portion to the oppositely situated portionof the upper.'

10. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, incorporating an inner sole, asupport member for the arch of the foot depending from said inner soleand spaced from the heel, said support member including an extendedportion providing a tension strap which can be guided to the oppositeouter side of the boot and at such location is adapted to be releasablyfixed by adjustable boot closure means, an upper providing an ankle bonesleeve and an instep portion, a strap member provided at said ankle bonesleeve, a deflecting element provided for said boot, said tension strapextending about said deflecting element and being guided back in thedirection towards said instep portion and at such location beingconnected with said strap member of the ankle bone sleeve.

11. A sports boot, especially a ski boot, incorporating an inner sole, asupport member for the arch of the foot depending from said inner soleand spaced from the heel, said support member including an extendedportion pro viding a tension strap which can be guided to the oppositeouter side of the boot and at such location is adapted to be releasablyfixed by adjustable boot closure means, said support member beingconstructed at said inner sole in the form of a substantiallyarch-shaped strip which extends towards the side of the inner sole whichis located at the outside of the foot when inserted in the boot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,539,026 1/1951 Mangold 36252,785,480 3/1957 Maccarone 3676 X 3,327,410 6/1967 Park et al. 362.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 225,507 3/ 1910 Germany.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner

